Modular hydroponic system

ABSTRACT

A continuous flow, modular hydroponic system comprising a nutrient tray housing a nutrient feed supply operatively supported on a support structure and a plurality of plant cartridges removably mounted on a plant cartridge support member wherein each plant cartridge comprises a hollowing member housing a planting medium therein and having a coupling member formed on the upper portion thereof to mount the plant cartridge on the plant cartridge support member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

A continuous flow modular hydroponic system for the growth of plants.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art discloses a number of hydroponic devices. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,158 shows a combined humidifier and plant apparatusincluding a first compartment, water trough being provided in the firstcompartment and a tray arranged to cover the water trough and forsupporting a layer of soil above the trough. A second compartment isprovided to receive a quantity of water. An immersion heater is locatedin the second compartment. A fan is positioned so as to drive air andwater vapor across the surface of the water in the second compartmenthumidify the ambient atmosphere.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,162 illustrates a hydroponic apparatus including ahousing means for forming a nutrient solution storage chamber. Pumpmeans provided in the housing to pump the nutrient solution from thestorage chamber to a supporting means holding the roots of the plantspositioned within the housing means. Radiation means may also beprovided in the housing means.

Additional examples of the prior art are found in U.S. Pat. Nos.2,306,027; 3,095,670; 3,323,253; 3,543,437; 3,992,809; 3,841,023;2,296,860; 2,963,819; 841,306; 1,245,441; 800,746; 2,777,253; 2,121,461;and French Pat. Nos. 857,501; 1,170,246; 1,400,547; and British Pat. No.4,469.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a continuous flow modular hydroponicsystem. More specifically the hydroponic system or apparatus comprises aplurality of plant support units operatively mounted on a supportstructure. The hydroponic system further includes a plant enclosure anda plurality of light absorbing elements.

Each plant support unit comprises a substantially rectangular nutrienttray and a substantially rectangular plant cartridge support memberconfigured to cooperatively form a nutrient compartment therebetween. Aplurality of cartridge apertures are formed in the support member tooperatively support a corresponding plant cartridges. A nutrient feedsupply is operatively coupled to the plant support units extendsdiagonally downward toward the return end of the nutrient tray tofacilitate dispersion of the nutrient.

The plant enclosure comprises a frame to operatively support a pluralityof partitions to protect the plants disposed therein.

The light absorbing elements as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,783,each comprise a frosted, convex bubble shaped member to optimize lightabsorption. It should be noted that the task is to optimize lightabsorption.

Each plant cartridge comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow memberhaving a substantially annular coupling member or ring affixed to theupper portion thereof. A planting medium to support the seedling andplant is operatively housed within the substantially cylindrical hollowmember by a retainer means. The support structure comprises a pair ofsubstantially parallel vertical side walls and a pair of substantiallyparallel vertical end walls extending about the periphery of the plantenclosure. Extending inwardly from the side walls is a plurality ofsupport legs each comprising a substantially horizontal support memberand substantially vertical support member to operatively support theplant support units.

In use, the plant cartridges are placed into cartridge apertures. Inoperation nutrient is fed into the first plant support unit through afeed supply pipe or conduit to roots of the plants. Due to the slant ofthe bottom wall the nutrient is fed to next adjacent plant support unitand thence to the next adjacent plant support unit until it reaches thelast plant support unit and returned.

In normal operation transfer of seedlings to the growing medium causesshock of ten (10) days to two (2) weeks. However, the unique plantcartridges of the instant invention obviates the necessity of transferor transplanting. Moreover, mediums such as gravel act as a filter whichbuild up a residue of minerals of detrimental to the controlled growthof the plants.

In contrast, the instant invention permits a continuous supply ofclosely controlled nutrient. Actual use of reduced the growth cycle byone-half with an increased yield.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hydroponic system.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the hydroponic system.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a plant support unit.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the plant support unit takenalong line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detailed side view of a plant cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a detailed end view of a support structure.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the plant supportunit.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention comprises acontinuous flow modular hydroponic system generally indicated as 10including a plurality of plant support units each generally indicated as12 operatively mounted on a support structure generally indicated as 14.The hydroponic system 10 further includes a plant enclosure generallyindicated as 16 and a plurality of light absorbing elements eachgenerally indicated as 18.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each plant support unit 12 comprises asubstantially rectangular nutrient tray 20 having a substantiallyhorizontal ledge 22 formed about the upper periphery thereof and asubstantially rectangular plant cartridge support member 24 having acorresponding ledge 26 formed about the periphery thereof configured toengage the ledge 22 to cooperatively form a nutrient compartment 28therebetween. A plurality of cartridge apertures 30 to operativelysupport a corresponding plant cartridge each generally indicated as 32(FIG. 5). A nutrient feed supply 34 is operatively coupled to the plantsupport units 12. More particularly, the nutrient feed supply comprisesa pump 36 and storage tank 38 to feed nutrient therefrom to asubstantially horizontal supply feed pipe 40 to the first plant supportunit 12. Adjacent plant support units 12 are coupled together byinterconnecting feed pipes 42 while the last plant support unit 12b iscoupled to nutrient feed supply by return feed pipe 44. As more fullydescribed hereinafter, the pump 36 may be actuated manually orautomatically through timer 46 coupled to an electrical source (notshown). It should be noted that the bottom wall 48 extends diagonallydownward toward the return end of the nutrient tray 20 to facilitatedispersion of the nutrient from feed pipes 40 and 42 as well as returnnutrient to pump 36 and storage tank 38 as more fully describedhereinafter.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plant enclosure 16 comprises a frameto operatively support a plurality of partitions to protect the plantsdisposed therein. More specifically, the frame comprises upper and lowerchannels 50 and 52 respectively extending across the sides and ends ofthe plant enclosure 16. The end partitions 54 are fixedly attachedbetween upper and lower channels 50 and 52 respectively while the sidepartitions as described more fully hereinafter are slidably disposedwithin upper and lower channels 50 and 52 respectively to permit accessinto the entire interior of the plant enclosure 16. Upper and lowerchannels 50 and 52 are held in fixed spaced relation by upright members56. The partitions 58 may comprise screen panels or non-porous, frostedpanel members. As shown in FIG. 2, the hydroponic system 10 may comprisea pair of substantially parallel series of interconnected plant supportunits 12.

The light absorbing elements 18 as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,783,each comprise a frosted, convex bubble shaped member to optimize lightabsorption. It should be noted that the task is to optimize lightabsorption. The convex element is at least six feet in width and twelveinches in radial curvature.

As best shown in FIG. 5, each plant cartridge 32 comprises asubstantially cylindrical hollow member 60 having a substantiallyannular coupling member or ring 62 affixed to the upper portion thereof.A planting medium 64 to support the seedling and plant is operativelyhoused within the substantially cylindrical hollow member 60 by aretainer means generally indicated as 66. The retainer means 66comprises a pair of retainer members 68 which extend inwardly relativeto the side wall 70 of the substantially cylindrical hollow member 60such that the lower portion of the planting medium 64 engages the innersurface thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support structure14 comprises a pair of substantially parallel vertical side walls 72 anda pair of substantially parallel vertical end walls 73 extending aboutthe periphery of the plant enclosure 16. Extending inwardly from theside walls 72 is a plurality of support legs each comprising asubstantially horizontal support member 74 and substantially verticalsupport member 76 to operatively support the plant support units 12.FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the support structure 78comprising a pair of substantially T-shaped members 80 coupled togetherby a substantially horizontal interconnecting support member 82 tooperatively support the plant support units 12 therebetween. As bestshown in FIG. 2, a door 84 is provided at one end of the enclosure 16 topermit access to the hydroponic device 10 between the substantiallyparallel series of interconnected plant support units 12.

In use, the plant cartridges 32 are placed into cartridge apertures 30.In operation nutrient is fed from the nutrient storage tank 38 by pump36 actuated either manually or through the timer 46, coupled to anexternal electrical source (not shown). The nutrient is fed into thefirst plant support unit 12a through feed supply pipe or conduit 40 toroots 86 of the plants 88. Due to the slant of the bottom wall thenutrient is fed to next adjacent plant support unit 12 and thence to thenext adjacent plant support unit 12 until it reaches the last plantsupport unit 12b and returned directly to the nutrient storage tank 38.

In normal operation transfer of seedlings to the growing medium causesshock of ten (10) days to two (2) weeks. However, the unique plantcartridges 32 of the instant invention obviates the necessity oftransfer or transplanting. Moreover, mediums such as gravel act as afilter which build up a residue of minerals of detrimental to thecontrolled growth of the plants.

In contrast the instant invention permits a continuous supply of closelycontrolled nutrient. Actual use as reduced the growth cycle by one-halfwith an increased yield.

As previously discussed the side partitions are slidably disposed withinchannels 50 and 52 to permit access into the interior of plant enclosure16. The cross-sectional dimension of the lower side channels 52 orseparation therebetween permits exposure of all the plants within theplant enclosure 16 for maintenance and picking while the cross-sectionaldimension of the upper channels 50 permits optimum light absorptionthrough the dimension of the frosted convex members or elements 18.

FIG. 7 shows an alternate feed supply 90 including a pump 92 and storagetank 94 to feed nutrient through feed supply conduit 96 to each of theplant support units 12. Adjacent plant support units 12 are coupledtogether by interconnecting feed conduit 98 while the last plant supportunit 12b is coupled to the nutrient feed supply by return feed conduit100. The last plant support unit 12b includes a liquid level controlcomprising member 102 having an aperture 104 formed on the upper portionthereof. As a result the liquid nutrient feeds through the plant supportunits 12 and seeks an even or equal depth therebetween.

In essence the technique of growing with the present hydroponic systemcomprises a process of rooting and growing a plant to maturity in asingle medium 64 supported in the plant cartridge 32. The single medium64 is seeded and together the plant cartridge 32 placed in the plantcartridge support member or tray 24. The tray 24 is then placed on thenutrient tray 20 to immerse the medium 64 in the nutrient. To facilitatecommercial use an incubator tray 24 may be initially employed. After theplant has started to mature the plant cartridge 32 are moved ortransplanted to a growing tray 24 where the apertures 30 are spacedfurther apart to permit full growth and maturity of the plants. Once theplant has reached maturity and been harvested such as a tomato plant,the plant may be severed from the top of the plant cartridge 32. Thetray 24 may then be tipped exposing the roots which in turn may besevered.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained andsince certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:
 1. A hydroponic system comprising a plurality of plant support units in fluid communication and disposed end to end to form a continuous flow modular hydroponic system, each plant support unit including a nutrient tray of liquid nutrient impervious material to operatively house a nutrient therein, a support means comprising a support structure defining at least one support surface to operatively support each said plant support unit and a nutrient feed supply comprising a pump and storage tank to feed nutrient therefrom to a supply pipe operatively coupled to the first of said plant support units, the adjacent plant support units being coupled together by interconnecting feed pipes, the last of said plant support unit being coupled to said nutrient feed supply by a return feed pipe, each said plant support unit comprising a nutrient tray having a ledge formed about the upper inner peripheral portion thereof and a plant cartridge support member having a corresponding ledge formed about the periphery thereof configured to matingly engage said ledge of said nutrient tray to form a nutrient compartment within said tray, said plant cartridge support member including at least one cartridge aperture formed thereon to operatively support a corresponding plant cartridge, at least one cartridge operatively configured to support a plant therein, said plant medium cartridge comprising a cylindrical hollow member having a coupling member formed about the upper portion thereof to operatively couple said plant cartridge to said plant cartridge support member and a retainer means formed on the lower portion thereof to operatively retain a planting medium within said hollow member, said retainer means comprising at least one retainer member extending inwardly relative to the side wall and from above the bottom portion of said substantially cylindrical hollow member to operatively engage the lower portion of the planting medium.
 2. The hydroponic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises a pair of substantially parallel vertical side walls, a plurality of support legs each comprising a substantially vertical member placed between said side walls and a substantially horizontal support member extending inwardly from said side walls defining said horizontal surface to operatively support said nutrient tray.
 3. The hydroponic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plant cartridge comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow member having a substantially annular coupling ring affixed to the upper portion thereof.
 4. The hydroponic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retainer means comprises a pair of said retainer members.
 5. The hydroponic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises at least a pair of substantially T-shaped members coupled together by substantially horizontal interconnecting support member to operatively support said plant support unit therebetween. 